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DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNICATION AND MEDIA STUDIES

James O'Connor, Department head

 

Communication

The baccalaureate degree in Communication is designed to develop student competencies in oral, written, and visual communication by providing opportunities for focused study and research in broadcasting, speech communication, interpersonal communication, multi-platform journalism, public relations, and/or organizational communication. Acquisition of communication skills will facilitate participation in the economy, development, and culture of southeast Louisiana and beyond.

Students who complete Southeastern’s BA in Communication will:

  1. Be able to write well in multiple forms of media.
  2. Be able to understand and apply basic critical thinking, data gathering, and academic research with a goal in mind of supporting a position within a communication theory.
  3. Understand the basics of oral communication including organization, individual, and group communication, audience principles, listening, and performance.
  4. Be able to apply the tools, technologies, and practices appropriate to the students’ fields of study.
  5. Understand the rules of journalism, 1st Amendment principles, ethics, and the general laws applicable to the students’ fields of study.
  6. Demonstrate job preparedness and specific background training for such professions as law, journalism, government service, and teaching.

 

Major

Students wishing to major in Communication must complete 23 hours of core requirements and 21 hours of Communication electives. Students must devote their Communication electives to a minimum of 6-9 hours in each of the categories of writing/oral communication, production and culture, Fifteen (15) hours of communication electives must be at the 300- or 400-level. The major in communication leads to the degree of Bachelor of Arts. Core Requirements:

COMM 101 1 hour 
COMM 102  1 hour 
COMM 151  3 hours 
COMM 159  3 hours 
COMM 211  3 hours 
COMM 215  3 hours 
COMM 391  3 hours 
COMM 453  3 hours 
COMM 498  3 hours 
Total  23 hours 

 

Communication Electives      

Writing/Oral Communication (Courses focusing on the generation of content – information gathering, reporting, researching, and writing 6-9 hours required): Communication 213, 316, 321, 340, 344, 354, 359, 363, 408, 411, 413, 463, 465, 495.

Production (Courses focusing on the display of communication – design, display, editing, packaging, and production, 6-9 hours required): Communication 256, 257, 260, 341, 357, 376, 417, 430, 449, 460, 466.          

Culture (Courses focusing on cultural issues in professional communication – critical, social, theoretical and qualitative values, 6-9 hours required): Communication 270, 364, 369, 371, 378, 418, 433, 451, 456, 458, 461, 467, 471, 475, 485, 493.

 

Special Recommendations for Communication Majors

Communication is so very diverse in general that it affects all human activity, and Communication majors find that their studies prepare them for a wide range of endeavors. The best approach to gaining a general understanding of this field is to emphasize a broad range of skills and principles. However, in preparing for a specific vocation in this field, change is rapid, and Communication majors must pay close attention to techniques and styles associated with professional approaches. For those students who have a special interest in any of the focus areas below, they should give careful consideration to fulfilling their communication major electives with the courses listed.

Film/Video: Writing/Oral – COMM 340, 354, 363. Production – COMM 256, 257, 260, 417, 430, 449, 460. Culture – COMM 369, 456, 461, 493.

Health Communication: Writing/Oral – COMM 316, 411, 413, 463, 465, 495. Production – COMM 376, 417, 466. Culture – COMM 371, 378, 418, 433, 458, 461, 471, 475, 485.

Journalism/Magazines: Writing/Oral – COMM 321, 344, 495. Production – COMM 341, 376, 430. Culture – COMM 451, 456, 461, 493.

*Journalism/Newspapers: Writing/Oral – COMM 321, 340, 344, 495. Production – COMM 341, 376, 417, 430. Culture – COMM 451, 456, 458, 461.

Organizational Communication: Writing/Oral – COMM 316, 413. Production – COMM 376, 417. Culture – COMM 418, 433, 471, 475.

On-line Media: Writing/Oral – COMM 321, 340, 344, 495. Production – COMM 341, 376, 417, 430. Culture – COMM 451, 456, 458, 461.

Public Relations: Writing/Oral – COMM 411, 413, 463, 465, 495. Production – COMM 376, 417, 466, Culture – COMM 270, 364, 458, 467.

Radio: Writing/Oral – COMM 340, 354, 359, 495. Production – COMM 256, 417, 430, 460. Culture – COMM 451, 456, 461, 493.

*Speech and Rhetoric: Writing/Oral – COMM 213, 411, 413. Production – COMM 256, 376, 460. Culture – COMM 371, 378, 418, 433, 475.

Television/Video: Writing/Oral – COMM 340, 354, 363, 408. Production – COMM 257, 260, 357, 417, 430, 460. Culture – COMM 369, 456, 461, 493.

*Note: One of these two areas is recommended to students interested in pursuing alternative certification to teach communication at the high school level.

 

Honors Diploma in the Discipline

For information on earning Sophomore Honors Distinction, Upper Division Honors Distinction, or the Honors Diploma, please consult The University Honors Program section of this catalog, the Director of the Honors Program, and/or your Department Head. 

 

Minors

Students who wish to complete a minor will complete 18 hours of communication courses, including   COMM 211.